Electric process for desalting mineral oil



Patented Sept. 22, 1,942

'2,296,239 i y ELEc'rEIc PROCESS Foa DEsAL'nNG MINERAL on.

Edmund I. Bailey, Toledo, Ohio, assigner, by4

mesneyassignments, to Petroiite Corporation,

Ltd.,

y ware Wilmington, Dei.,a corporation of Dela- Application September 14, 1938, Serial No. 229,933

13 claims. (c1. zul-19u) remove` the impurity-containing water in large My invention relates to a novel process for electrically treating mixtures or emulsions and, more particularly, to a novel process in which a mixing action is imparted to the constituents in an electric eld, whereby mixing and coalescing tendencies are present in the same zone.

The invention is particularly useful in removing dispersed impurity-containing water droplets Y from an oil of suiiicientv resistivity as to permit establishment of anA electric field therein. Most commonly, the invention is employed with reference to the treatment of a mineral oil and will removal of impurity-containing water droplets from a crude oil.

vbe particularly described with reference to the Most crude oils, as produced from the earth-in the form of an emulsion, contain water'in varying' amounts, depending upon' locationl `andv` condi- A tions of production. Most crude oil emulsions contain' from'10%. tof5`0 %V ofwater. lTo be com mercally salable, such a crudeoil is conventional-fp.

vly` dehydrated by various known methods tore-y duce the water content to a value which isusual- 1ybe1cw3%. ,l ,n f

The present process for removin'gfdispersed immeasure. However, in many instances, theresulting dehydrated oil still contains impurities in such amount as to result in deleterious corrosion and clogging actions when the oil is subsequently reiined. By way of example,` oils are often eli-'- .countered which contain notmore than onehalf of 1% of dispersed water butin-which the salt content is several hundred grams per barrel of oil. By the term desalting, as employedherein, is meantthe removal from a mineral oil of impurities other than, or inamounts greater than, can'be removed by mere dehydration treatment which produces only proportionate removalV of impurities associated with the water, and which removal of nnpnritics-fby "assuming" is not de-` l pendent upon the alterationof the water content ofthe'oil. y 'w v f y Such ,dispersed brine droplets can be removed from the oil and, in some instances. can be predominantly replaced. byA other droplets containing less or-noneovf the impurities, 'by mixing a `relatively fresh waterwith the oilins'uch man--v neras to Droduce'a mixturein which the impurityfcontaining water dropletsusually-receives. such a dehydrated oil 'as' the materialto-bez' treated.` In this process, the vincoming"'oiljsholuld 2 preferably be of lovvwatery content-and bestgre-gV `sults arobtained if the water-content does notV exceed 2% or 3%, thoughit is possibleto obtain some beneiicial `results andremovepsomejof the impurity-containing water droplets if upto about 8% or 10% ofwater is present. Usually-,honra ever, I preferto' start this process where dehydration processes end, though it ywilliiie clear that the oil to betreated; by the present process need c not Vresult fromvi'aiprevious dehydration; stepl as a' A the process is llapplicab'lefto'oils oi low water conf` f tent, whether naturally :produced `in f state or whether 'obtained byblending variouscrudes, Thel process is also applicable totopped oilsl `or i to fractions obtained from an oil, andthe term.-

mineral oil is used to cover all such materials;

l The water present in a crude oil emulsion conous other materials may be present as impurities v45 tainsvariousassociated impurities. 'I`his water" V is usually a' brine containing various salts of which magnesium chloride, calcium` chloride, and'sodium` chloride'mayhe citedas examples. Vari' 5.0

innsuch brine, for example. silt and chemicals which may be present vdue to chemical treatment of the wells, erg., acids due to acid treatment of oil wells.

D ehydration of purity-containing water droplets coexist with the relatively .'fresh waterdroplets, this mixture being vthan"'silbjecteii.tc the action cf an electric cld .y ofv sufficient' 'intensityf toV coalesce the coexisting-droplets;` By theterm relatively fresh waterj as herein-used, I have reference to water whichj contains substantiallyless of the impurities thanv do the originally-present impurity-containingwater droplets of the oil. Distilled water is' notv essential andk ordinary fresh water, such 'as is obtainable from sources used-for drinking purposes, wm give cxceucncresuits. This term is' thus not limited to a pure water containing no or rchemicals and `includes -water which j may contain, or; tojwhich'may be added, various chemicals to assist in theprocess, However, if theimpurlty. content of the oil is to be reduced by the process. itis essential that this relatively freshwater should `not be contaminated with .impurities to the same extent as the original waf ter, droplets'to be removed,vforthe process acts,-

V in eflectftc replace'these original water droplets` with' droplets ofthe added relatively fresh water-.vl

` The present'inveution is particularly useful in 'those'sit'uation's where theincoming oil contains emulsifyingagents in such amount, or of suchv nature,..that the'usually-applied mixing action designed-to mix the oil with the relatively fresh Y, water 'will form a mixturev or emulsion which is dlmcult orimpos'sible of electric resolution. Cona crude oil emulsion will citen 55` siderablediillculty has been encountered in treatthe treater cannot be operated with high throughuts.

p In the present invention, it has been found that the purification of such oils, and many other oils, is improved by delaying the ultimate mixing of the oil and relatively fresh water until these materials are in a treating zone in which an electric field is established which is of such character as to exert a coalescing action on the water droplets.

It is an object of the present invention to remove impurity-containing water droplets from an oil by delivering to a treating mne proportioned quantities 'of this oil and relatively fresh water and mixing same while under the innuence of an electric eldestablished in this treating zone. I am unable to explain withl certainty the exact reasons for the improved treatment but it has been established that the simultaneous presence of a mixing action and an electric coalescing'action is beneficial in these instances. Tests also indicate that certain artificial mixtures formed by such oils and relatively fresh water will Vage rapidly, and that the effectiveness of electric treatment decreases as the mixture ages. Such aging of the mixture depends both upon chronological and absorption conditions.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a-n electrically-treatable water-in-oil mixture in the presence of an electric ileld, particularly in those instances where such a mixture has a fast-aging characteristic.

Another object of the invention is to mix the oil and the relatively fresh water by inducing a turbulence in the electric eld into which these 'constituents are introduced.

Another object of the invention is to facilita mixing of such materials in an electric eld by vibrating one or both of the electrodes.

Still another object of the invention is to'recycle into-the field a portion of the electricallytreated constituents discharging therefrom, whereby the re-cycled constituents are mixed with the incoming oil and relatively fresh water.

Another object of the invention is to mingle the oil with the relatively fresh water at a point spaced from the field, and to produce the ultimate mixture to'be electrically treated by inducing a mixing action in the field itself, as distinct from producing this ultimate mixture at a posiunder the influence of an electric field. It is lanother object of the invention to provide a novel 'process and apparatus for producing this result.

Another object of the invention is to discharge oil and relatively fresh water in proportioned amounts into an auxiliary ield'which is preferably of lower gradient than the main eld, and to move these constituents into the zone of inuence action in one or both elds as will produce the ultimate mixture desired in the process.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the, provision of a multiple electrode system in which fields are established both ,between the electrodes and between one of the electrodes and the means which discharges into Vthe field. Another object is to provide an apparatus including concentric electrodes, the outer of which is substantially closed at a position spaced from the inner electrode and to direct the constituents into this inner electrode to flow toward the closed end of the outer electrode.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of an electric treater of the invention by use of which the process can be performed.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail, partially in section, of the support for the inner electrodes.

Figure 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic view, partially in section, showing an alternative form of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figure l, there is shown a tank or container I0 including upper and lower walls II and I2, this tank providing a chamber containing oil and water constituents undergoing gravitational separation. Provision is ma'de for withdrawing oil from the upper end of the tank It through a pipe I3. and for withdrawing water from the lower end of the tank through a pipe I4 in4 such manner that superatmospheric pressure can be maintained inside the tank, if desired.

submerged in a portion of the liquid in the tank I0, which is of suilicient resistivity to permit maintenance of an electric field, is one or more treating units. In the presentl treater, three treating units are shown,` indicated respectively by the numerals I5, I5 and I5", these units being substantially duplicates. Description of the treating unit I5 will suflice to show the construction of the remaining umts in which corresponding elements are indicated by primed numbers.

The treating unit I6 includes an outer electrode I8 which is partially or completely closed at its upper end by a closure means, shown as being in the form of a plate I9. As shown, this outer electrode I8 diverges slightly in a down-f ward direction so as to be of frusto-conical form. A supporting means is provided therefor and includes a support 2li which may be in the form of a pipe connected to the plate I9 by a flange 2|. The upper end of the support 20 is suspended from a string of insulators 22 which are, in turn, suspended on a rod 23 which is vertically ad- .instable at the point where it passes through the upper wall I I. In this connection, the upper end of the rdd may be threaded to receive a nut 24 disposed in a pocket 25 of the upper end of the tank lli.

Positioned within the outer electrode I8 isan inner electrode 30 of annular shape and preferably constructed as a sleeve. tIt cooperates with the outer electrode I8 in deiining an annular space 32 in which a main eld may be established. It is shown as being of frustoconical form, diverging downwardly at substantially the same angle as the outer electrode I8.

To support the inner electrode 30 in an adof the main eld, while inducing such mixing justable manner with respect to the outer electrede il, I prefer to utilize a lcantilever construction withadiustments permitting both radial and circumferential adjustment ofthe inner iustment of the radial position of the inner` electrode 3l. When in proper position, a setscrew Il'is tightened to retain the adjustment.

That'end of the sleeve I1 which is closest to the axis of the tank Il is suitably connected to an adjusting means including a block ll. As shown. .this block' includes a pin 4l threadedly received by the sleeve I1 which is locked against turning byabutment with theblock Il, or by auxiliary means. v This block Il is pivotally supported on a bolt 42 extending therethrough and also through a plate 4l of a supporting member 44.4 This permits sumcient circumferential adjustment; ofthe' inner. electrode 30 to position it properly with'respect to the outer electrode I8. When in proper position, a set screw 45 is threaided through the block I! into engagement with vthe lower surface-of the plate 43 to lock thestructure inthe desired position. y-

Extending upward from the supporting member 44 isasupport 41 which, in turn, vis sus-' y water into the pipe I through a pipe 63. In this embodiment of the invention, a mingling of the oil and relatively fresh water is` eifected when the two liquids come together but, with many oils, it is ldesirable to avoid any semblance of intimate mixing at this point.

'I'he pipe 5I extends upward to a distributor 64 with 4which discharge pipes 05, 6 5', and 65 are connected to distribute the proportioned amounts of oil and relatively fresh water tothe three treating units. As shown, each of these pipes is bent upward yto forma discharge means. acting to discharge the proportioned materials into the inner electrode 3l in a direction toward the closure means of the outer electrode formed by the plate I5. It is preferable, though not always essential, to extend this discharge means slightly into -the space defined by the inner electrode,

though the amount of this inner extension is not critical. It is desirable to Vterminate the discharge means at such point that the incoming proportioned materials will exert an injector action tending to draw already-treated constituents into an annular space 58 between the discharge means and the inner electrode 30, as indicated by -arrows S1.

To energize the electrodes, I prefer to use a system which establishes a potential difference between the inner and outer electrodes and a potential difference between the inner electrode and v .its corresponding discharge pipe. Fields of difierpended from a string of'. insulators-46.1 A 'rodr'` 4l extending through a centralizing sleeve 5| secured to the upper wall vil of thetank is used for suspending the string of'insulators 48 and the attached electrode means. Vertical adjust--` ment of therrod 45, and correspondingly the inner electrode 3l. can be effected by turning a nut 5I` toward the upper end of this rod.

The treating units II' and l5" are of identical construction andthe inner electrodes 30' and 5l" thereof 'are adiustably mounted by .similarA means. It will thus be apparent that the three inner electrodes 3l, Il', and 35'.' are suspended from a single means comprising the support 41,. the string of insulators 45, and the rod 49. These inner .electrodes -thus be electrically connected together.- Y.

-It will also be apparent that the outer electrodes li', I8",and Il'" areindividually'suspended by means corresponding to the support 2l, the string of insulators 22, and the `rod 13.

It is desirable that these outer electrodes be electrieally connected together. Flexible conductors .connecting the supports 2l, Il', andv 2l"` can be used in this connection or, if the rigidity of the structure supporting the outer electrodes Il, Il',

'and il" is to be increased, I canuse-rods 55, 55',

and 55" interconnecting the supports 25,14', and 2l",V as best shown in `Figure 2. Adjustable spacing of.-these outer electrodes .with respect to `each other may be effected by threading the ends of these rods which extend through the arms of a U-shaped clamp 55 surrounding the correspondingsupport. These arms can thusbe clamped against the support by tightening a pair of nutsthreaded to the end of the rod on opposite .aidesoftheseamis The proportioned amounts of. oil' and relativelyfresh water can be delivered 4to -thetreating units I5, I5', and. i5"-by any suitable means; Inv the L embodiment showma pump Il` continuously delivers the oil to a pipe 5l anda pump Itis driven..

* at proportional speed to force theA relatively fresh .-ent voltage gradient can thus be established in a `manner to minimize short-circuiting tendencies and facilitate the treatment which takes place concurrently with the turbulence-induced mixing action which may be set up in either or both of these fields.

`In this connection, I have shown a double-` transformer system including transformers and `16. The secondary windings of these trans- 4-formers are connected tosether and to ground through a conductor 11, being thus connected to the tank Iii,.which is grounded as indicated at 18. .The remaining high-voltage terminal of the transformer 15 is connected by a conductor 19 extending through a bushing I0 to the support 41 and thus to each-of the inner electrodes 30, 30',

and 3l". The remaining high-voltage terminal of the transformer 18 is connected to a conductor I2 which extends through a bushing 83 and is connected to the supports 20, 2li', and 2li" so as to energize the outer. electrodes i8, I8', and I8".

The primary windings of the transformers 15 andl l 15 are connected to fa suitable sourcein such manner that the secondary potentials are additive. Thus, the potential between the outer electrode I8 and the inner electrode 30 will be represented by the sum of the voltages of the transformers 15 and 15. 0n the other hand, the potential between the inner electrode and the discharge pipe will be only one-half of this total potential ii identical transformers are used. Correspondingly, the voltage gradient in the annular Aspace iz win4 be materially higher than in the space I4 between the discharge pipe 65 and the inner electrode 5l.`

resent the incoming vconstituents and arevdeliv-f ered -upward'towardthe plate I9 of the outer The preferred mode of operation of the treater is a continuous one. The mingledloiland vrela-- tively fresh water, respectively delivered by the pumps Gli-and 52 in proportioned amounts, repelectrode at a considerable velocity. As the upward-movingstream nears this plate, it spreads andaturbulence is established near the plate which is of sulcient intensity to mix the constituents. Projection of such a stream into contact with a surface transverse to the direction of iiow will establish a'turbulence sumcient for the purpose disclosed and will also permit this' surface to be energized by a field-producing means so that the mixing and `co'alescing actions are both present in the same zone. Contributing to this turbulence-produced mixing is the fact that the fluid does not move through a streamlined passage so that they constituents are swirled in a manner to create eddies whichefiect a substantial mixing action.

@escasa y draw into the v in the recycled constituents contain impurities in Another feature contributing to intimacy of mixing is the fact that;

the constituents substantially reverse their direction of movement, moving upward ilrst inside the inner electrode and then moving downward in the annular space 32. y'llie turbulence is most pronounced in the zone adjacent the annular upper edge of the inner electrode 36. In effect,

the constituents substantially reverse their direction of ow as they move around this edge andare subjected to the high-gradient electric eld formed between this edge and the elements of the outer electrode I8.

By proper design, another expedient can be used to facilitate mixing in the electric field, namely, vibration of one or both of the electrodes of each treating unit. This vibration can be induced by external or internal forces. It will be clear that both the inner and outer electrodes of the embodiment shown will have a tendency to vof vibration can be controlled, or practically eliminated if desired, by controlling the resiliency of the means supporting and interconnecting the outer electrodes. For example, the support can be made smaller to increase the vibration. Likewise, the rods 55 can be made smaller or replaced with flexible conductors lii? a large amount of vibration is desired. In addition, the cantilever support for the inner electrodes may be of such resiliency that the incoming stream'will vibrate these electrodes. If vibration is relied upon in whole or in part to induce the mixing action, this vibration should be' at a relatively rapid rate. However, in many instances it is not essential to use the expedient of vibration for inducing the mixing action as entirely satisfactory results can be obtained through turbulence.

However, some turbulence is also present inside the inner electrode 30 in the space 84 and this turbulence can also be made to effect a mixing action of the constituents while under the iniiuence of the lower-gradient field established therein. In some instances, it is desired to establish a substantial mixing action in this space 84 so that both coalescing and mixing tendencies are present in this field as well as in the annular space 32. Under such circumstances, some mixing of the constituentscan take place in the lower-gradient field after which passageV of the constituents over and around the annular edge of the inner electrode may establish sumcient turbulence to remix, in a degree, these constituents. In other instances, the mixing action in this lower-gradient ileld can be made quite small so that the predominance of mixing takes place adjacent the plate I9 while under the influence of the eld thereadjacent.

By proper design, the constituents moving through the discharge pipe 65 can be made to quite small concentrations so that the impurities therein will be much more diluted than in the original impurity-containing droplets present in -the incoming oil. By way of example, if the relatively fresh water is quite free of the impurities to be removed and is used vin amount about 15%v by volume of the incoming oil, it will be clear that, if this incoming oil contains one-halfl of 1% of water, even a complete coalescence of these original water droplets with the relatively fresh water will result in very low concentrations.

The relative amounts of oil and. water present in the recycled constituents can be determined by proper selection of the vertical position of the treating units l5, l5', and l5" with respect to the tank i0. It will be clear that this tank contains substantially dry oil at its upper end and a body ,of water at its lower end, the upper surfaceof this body of water being approximated by the dotted line 8l. 'I'he water content progressively decreases from the line 8l to the top of the tank lil. Such a positioning of the treating units i5 is used as will insure that the recycled constituents shall not be of a character tending to short-circuit the electrodes. At the same time, it is neither essential nor desirable that the recycled material should be exclusively oil. The presence of the water droplets therein appears to be benecial in the process and makes available, in the space 56 inside the inner electrode 30, three types of Water droplets which may coexist and be miked until coalesced by the action of the electric eld. In this'connection.

it will be clear that the constituents in the space 66 may comprise (1) the oil entering through the discharge pipe 65, (2) the oil which is re'- cycled, as indicated by the arrows 67, (3) the impurity-containing water present in the oil to be treated and which is moved upward from the discharge pipe 65, (4) the relatively fresh water discharging upward from the pipe 65, and (5) the already-treated water representing a treated the invention is well adapted to the treatment of emulsions or mixtures other than those which involve the addition of relatively fresh water. Even crude oil emulsions, as produced from a well, or other water-ln-oll mixtures or emulsions may be very eiectively treated by moving them into the pipe El. will actY to coalesce the dispersed water droplets lof the emulsion, reducing the water content f inner electrode au certain already;

constituent entering the space 66, as indicated In this instance, the treaterA n I accesso:

the separated oil moving 3% or less.

through the pipe lato `mr the se point dissesti the .electric In carrying out* the purification process in"` z oil treats best; with a maximum removal of tue" impuritie`s,xif a given amount of water is used. This amount is usually not less than48% andthe maximum amount of water is determined by the tendency to form reverse-phase mixtures which have a short-circuiting tendency, this upper limit being usually around 50% though, with some oils, about 20% is'the upper limit. In most instances,` the material delivered through the discharge -pipe 05 will contain from 10% to 25% of the relatively fresh water with entirely satisvfactory results. 'I'he best proportions within these ranges can be determined empirically.

'Ihe electrically-#treated constituents .separate in the tank- Il.' The ccalesced water masses drop downward to the body of water beneath the levell ll` and unite therewith. By proper operational the treater, the 'stream of oil-free water can be withdrawn continuously vthrough the pipe il. The puried oil withdrawn `from the upper end of the tank I0 usually contains an amount of water commensurate with the amount 00, though this is not an invariable rule as the process can be used to increase slightly, or decrease slightly, the amount of water. However, the water remaining -in the oil withdrawn from the upper end of the'tank I0 through the pipe Ii comprises predominantly droplets of the relatively fresh water, as distinct from droplets of lthe original water containing the impurities to be removed. In effect, the process removes such impurity-containing water droplets and replaces them wtih a more or less commensurate amount of relatively fresh water.

By way of example, the process and apparatus herein-disclosed has been found excellent in removing salt and other impurities from dehydrated crude oils.- .In one instance, it has been capable of continuously handling an. incoming oil which was very dimcult to treat by other electrical apparatus. -Thisoil contained about .8% of brine and about 200 grams of salts per barrel of oil, mostly calcium Vchloride and sodium chloride. were found successful in handling the supply of this oil, each'treater receiving about 1500 barrels of oil per day of 24 hours. 'About 12% of relatively` fresh water lwas used in this installationand the salt content of the treated oil was rei duced to about 10 grams per barrel.

Referring particularly to Figure 4, the modi!- cation` therein-shown can be used if it is desired that 'contact between the oil and relatively fresh if :Byusefoff the modmeamucture, the 4ou and rel.

Six treaters of the type herein-disclosedV volving the additionl of relatively fresh water, it r will be found that best results will be obtained cela. mum the outer electrodes is in.'

'dientes byline' numem m anais closed by a,

plate yIll.- iis shown, this outergelectrode' is cylindrical in fshape, asiszalso the inner electrode indicated by the numeral III. This expedientcanbeusedinthetreatershowninFigure l without departing from the spirit ofthe in vention, and causes the incoming to turn bachupon itself to discharge vertically downward from the annular space |32.

Ihe discharge means in this embodiment comprises inner and outer pipes lli and III cooperating in defining an annularspace |21 which is fed through a pipe Illfrom a distributor |30. 'l'he inner pipe |35 extends through a gland I to a distributor ill. This inner pipe Il! can terminate at or near the top of the pipe ill.

'The oil and relatively fresh water are delivered separately to the distributors III and vMI by pipes |42 andv M3. Correspondingly, concentric streams of the relatively fresh water and 'the oil are delivered into the interior of the inner electrode |30. I prefer to moverthe :relatively fresh water through the annular space |31 and the oil through the pipe IIQ, but the opposite .system can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The inner and outer pipes Ill. and |30 preferably terminate inside the inner electrode I" in such position that a portion of the treated constituents' is recycled. If it is desiredjthat the first contact ofthe oil and relatively fresh water should be a slight-'distance from the ileld, the pipe III. can be shortened to terminate near the gland Ill in which 'event the streams of oil and relatively freshwater will 'r'riigle when. brought into 'contact' -in` the pipe Only one unitis shown in Figure fi'but it will be clear thatadditional-treating units can be fed from the distrlbutorslll Hl. The system shown in Figure l is contemplated for energization ofthe electrodes of Figure 4.

Various changes and modifications can `be n made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in theappendedclaims.

Iclaimasmyinvention:

-1. A process. for desalting a mineral oil containing no'm'orethan a few percent of `water which process includes the steps of: establishing an electric field in a treating zone of sumclent intensity to coalesce dispersed water droplets of a water in oil dispersion to for'm coalesced water drops; introducing the ou to be desaltea and relatively fresh water into said zone; subjecting said oil and relatively fresh water toa high degree of turbulenceto'intermix said'oil and'relatively freshwater in said treating zone while under the influence of. said field; and separating coalesced water from said oil.

2. A process as deiinedin claim 'l'. in which said oil and relatively freshwater. are separately introduced into said sone and mixed therein by said turbulence.

3. A process as defined in claim 1, inY which said -turbulence is produced by jetting propor- 'water-1S, t0. be efleated lser t0 th# matins mit v 4. a prece ardennes in claim ,1. 1-1n-.wh1cn i than is pos's'ibleinithe form'fshown'in Figure).4

tioned quantities of said oil and relatively fresh l water into said treating zone in-a given direction and abruptly deecting the same from said given i ivelyfrsa water brughr into-'contact'. 1s

and relatively fresh waterintosaidtreatingfzone finafgiven jdirectionf and abruptly deflectingthe said treating zone.

same from said-given direction to ilow in` a substantially opposite direction through 'a subsequent portion oi' said treating zone. 5. A process as-deiined .in Iclaim 1, in which the oli and relatively fresh waterare mingled toV form a combined stream and :said turbulence is produced by letting said combined stream into fleeting said-stream, said pnoeess also including the step of surrounding said treating zoiiewith oil partial separation oi' said coalesced water from the treated oil and cycling a -portlon ofsaid resulting cil through 6. The process as deiined in claimjl, in 'which lsaid treating zone includes s mixlngzone and n main treating zone, the electric'iield in said main treating zone being of greater intensity than the electric eld in mixing zone, and in which the oil and relatively fresh water are subjected "9. Aprocess asdeilnedinclaim Linwhichsaid treating zoneincludes a mixing zone andamain treating zone, and in'which said oil and relatively fresh water are delivered as separate streams 'said ileld ina given direction and abruptly deutilizing the injector action of said Jetor :i'e-` -.eredasastreamtosaidmixingzonetobesub iected to 'said high degree of turbulence in said zone and then flowed through said main treating zone under less turbulent conditions.

to said turbulence in said mixing zone and then ilowed through said main treating zone.

'1. A process as delinea in claim 1, mwnieh said treating zone includes a mixing zone `and a main treating zone, and-in which said oil and relatively fresh water are subjected to said 'high degree of turbulence in said mimng zone `and then flowed through said main treating zone under less turbulent conditions.

8. A process as'defined in claim 1, in which said treating zone includes a mixing zone and a main treating zone, and in which said oil and relatively fresh water are jetted into said treating zone in a given direction and abruptly deiiected adjacent said mixing zone from said given direction to produce said high degree of turbulence and to move into and through said main treating zone.

l1. A process as defined in claiml, in which' said oil and relatively fresh water are intermixed to form a combined stream and introduced into said treating zone as said combined stream and are subjected therein to said turbulence.

12. A process as defined in claim 1, in 'which said electric iield includes an edgebounded por-- `tion. of high voltage gradient, and in which said oil and relatively fresh water are moved into said treating zone to flow through said edge-bounded '3o portion of said field of high voltage gradient and thence along the remainder of said treating space. 13. A process as defined in claim 1, in which A said oil and relatively iresh water are brought together at a point Just before introduction into said treating zone.

1 EDMUND I. BAILEY. 

